Cheche Ababu, son of former Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba, is set to make his debut in global motorsport after being confirmed on the Motorsport UK Junior Rallycross Championship grid.
He will compete in next weekend’s round at the Pembrey Circuit in Wales, part of the 5 Nations British Rallycross Championship.
Cheche joins the Peter Gwynne Motorsport (PGM) Team, following in the footsteps of notable drivers such as Norwegian rallycross star Ole Henry Steinsholt and Latvian talent Roberts Vitols, who both previously competed in the MSUK Junior Rallycross Championship with PGM.
Speaking after the development, Cheche, who is the son of Kenya’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office in Nairobi and the UN Environment Programme, Namwamba, expressed his excitement at the new prospect and conveyed his gratitude for being granted the opportunity.
“I’m excited to make my international rallycross debut in the UK. It’s an incredible opportunity, and I look forward to the challenge of testing my skills against other young and upcoming drivers from around the world,” he stated.
“I’m grateful to my family and friends who’ve supported me this far, and I hope to make them proud as I represent Kenya on the track.”
After the news broke, Kenyans flooded the budding driver with congratulatory messages, with his father, Namwamba, also congratulating him on the remarkable achievement.
The Motorsport UK Junior Rallycross Championship serves as a key entry point for young drivers aged 14 to 17, aspiring to break into the dynamic world of rallycross. It holds global significance as a crucial feeder series and a model for accessible youth motorsport.
At just 14, Cheche is the reigning Kenya National Cadet Junior Buggy double champion in both Rallycross and Autocross, having begun his racing journey at the age of five in GP Karting. In past media appearances, he has named Belgian rally driver and WRC defending champion Thierry Neuville as his racing idol.
After mastering the basics in karting, Cheche transitioned to competitive buggy racing at age 12. He gained international attention in March 2025 when the FIA selected him to debut the new CrossCar, a vehicle designed to promote motorsport among young rally drivers globally.
Cheche drove the CrossCar to open the World Rally Championship (WRC) Safari Rally 2025 at the Kasarani Super Special Stage in Nairobi.
If successful, Cheche will join notable names such as Shivam Vinayak, Maxine Wahome, McRae Kimathi, Jeremy Wahome, Ian Duncan, Carl Tundo, Joginder Singh and Shekhar Mehta as Kenyans who have left their mark in global motorsport.
